JOB DESCRIPTION

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff – International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

October 14, 2025

Closing Date:

October 22, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

ECC Office of the Eastern Caribbean Countries

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

This requisition is for a consultancy at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Provide a short description of the objective of the office/department here.
• Provide a description of the purpose of the consultancy here.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Terms of Reference

International PAHO Consultant (IPC) – Health Economist to Support Achieving Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage in Eastern Caribbean Countries

Background

The countries of the eastern Caribbean are small island developing states with diverse socio-economic profiles and unique health challenges. Despite notable progress in health outcomes, these countries continue to grapple with significant challenges related to health financing, including limited financial resources, inefficiencies in resource allocation, and disparities in access to quality healthcare. Achieving universal access to health and universal health coverage remain high priorities across the region.

The health systems of these countries face the dual burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases, alongside emerging health threats such as climate change and pandemics. NCDs, particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, account for a significant proportion of mortality and morbidity in the region. These challenges are compounded by aging populations, migration of health professionals, and socio-economic inequalities that affect health outcomes.

Among these countries public expenditure ranges from 3-5% of gross domestic product (GDP) and out of pocket expenditure can be as high as 50%. However, in many cases, public spending is insufficient to meet the growing demand for healthcare services, leading to reliance on out-of-pocket payments. Progress towards achieving universal access to health and universal health coverage has been mixed. While some countries have implemented national health insurance schemes, coverage is often incomplete, with vulnerable populations remaining underserved.

To address these challenges, there is an urgent need to enhance the efficiency, equity, and effectiveness of health financing mechanisms. This involves not only increasing the overall level of funding for health but also ensuring that resources are allocated and utilized in a manner that maximizes health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations. The PAHO Strategy for Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage Strategic line 3 recognises public expenditure on health equivalent to 6% of GDP as a useful benchmark to support reducing inequities and increase financial protection. Strengthening health financing systems is critical to advancing the region’s health priorities and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Objective

The two main objectives of this consultancy are:

1. To support advocacy for enhancing the efficiency, equity, and effectiveness of health financing, aligned with current health challenges, socio-economic conditions, and health priorities.

2. Translate country priorities and defined service packages into feasible financing and purchasing options that improve equity, efficiency, and financial protection.

3. Produce applied analyses (fiscal space, expenditure trends, purchasing simulations) to guide decisions on PHC scale-up and hospital sustainability.

4. To support the development and uptake of sustainable strategies across eastern Caribbean countries focused on enhancing the efficiency, equity, and effectiveness of health financing, aimed at achieving universal access to health and universal health coverage.

Scope of Work

This consultancy involves work at the level of individual countries as well as through multi-country platforms, providing tailored technical cooperation. These shall draw on best practices and be tailored to the context of these countries towards achieving the objectives outlined above. The Consultant will be required to work complementarily with other members of the PAHO team and independently, under the direction of the Project Manager, in discrete areas as outlined below:

At the multi-country level, the Consultant will be required to:

 

1. Support conducting comprehensive assessment of the current health financing landscape, identifying key challenges, gaps, and opportunities.

2. Support the review existing health financing frameworks, policies, and mechanisms.

3. Contribute to the analysis of the impact of economic conditions, policy decisions, and international aid on health financing.

4. Support the organisation of multi-country forums to engage critical stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, and civil society, to build consensus on health financing priorities where applicable.

5. Contribute to providing technical assistance in the development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of multi-country guidelines for health financing where applicable.

6. Contribute to designing and facilitating capacity-building workshops and training sessions for country counterparts on health financing strategies, tools, and mechanisms.

 

At the level of individual countries, the Consultant will be required to:

Work independently in selected countries and territories. These will be specified by the Project Manager. Within specified countries, the Consultant will be required to:

1. Conduct in-depth assessments of the health financing system, focusing on resource allocation, revenue generation, and expenditure management.

2. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing health financing mechanisms, including public and private health insurance schemes, user fees, and external funding.

3. Develop country-specific health financing strategies, ensuring alignment with national health priorities and regional/global guidelines.

4. Provide technical support for implementing health financing reforms, including budgeting, resource mobilization, and financial management.

5. Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress of health financing reforms at the country level.

6. Provide technical support for the collection, analysis, and reporting of health financing data.

7. Facilitate policy dialogues with government officials, and other stakeholders to promote evidence-based health financing reforms.

8. Develop advocacy materials to support the implementation of health financing strategies.

9. Produce technical content for reports to the media and support visibility of technical cooperation delivered using the branding/communication materials, logos and templates.

10. Follow/adhere to guidelines issued by the PAHO Communications Department in developing all materials related to delivering technical cooperation to countries.

Duration

· The consultancy is expected to start on 20 October 2025, (or upon signing of contract) and continue for a period of twelve months.

 

Qualification/Experience and Attributes:

Education and Experience:

· Advanced degree in health economics, public health, health policy, or a related field.

· At least 8 years of experience in health financing, with a focus on developing countries or regions.

· Proven experience in conducting health financing assessments and developing regional and country-level strategies.

· Strong understanding of the health systems and regional health bodies in the eastern Caribbean.

· Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality reports and policy documents.

Skills/ Technical knowledge:

· Knowledge of related PAHO/WHO frameworks.

· Familiarity with relevant software tools or systems.

Language:

· Expert knowledge in written and spoken English.

· Report writing skills in English.

Other Attributes:

· Communication Skills: Ability to articulate ideas clearly and concisely.

· Integrity and ethics: Commitment to honesty, trustworthiness, and confidentiality.

· Empathy: Understand and consider the feelings and perspectives of others.

· Attention to detail: Consistently produce accurate and high-quality work.

· Critical thinking: Evaluate situations and make reasoned decisions.

· Resilience: Handle setbacks and pressures effectively, maintaining productivity.

· Active listening: Be attentive to and understand the needs and concerns of stakeholders.

· Conflict resolution: Effectively mediate disputes and finds mutually beneficial solutions.

· Team player: Capable of collaborating effectively with colleagues.

· Adaptability: Willingness and ability to adjust to changing environments and priorities.

· Problem-solving skills: Aptitude for analyzing issues and developing solutions.

· Time management: Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time efficiently.

· Leadership potential: Demonstrate initiative and the ability to take on leadership of teams.

· Relationship building: Establish and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders.

· Diversity appreciation: Respect and understand the value of different cultural backgrounds and perspectives.

· Inclusive behavior: Foster an environment where all stakeholders feel valued and included.

· Service Orientation: Prioritise the needs and satisfaction of external stakeholders.

· Internal Client Focus: Understand the importance of supporting internal teams to achieve broader organizational goals.

· Awareness of stakeholder interests: Understand and manage the varying interests and priorities of different stakeholders and build consensus.

· Understand and apply PAHO vision and goals: Align stakeholder interactions with the broader objectives of PAHO.

Note: Each consultant must provide his/her own computer for the full duration of the consultancy and must have access to email, telephone and video conferencing communication tools.

Compensation:

The Consultant will be contracted using the guidelines for the recruitment of PAHO International Consultants contained in the PAHO/WHO Contractual Mechanism, revision 8, September 2017. Compensation will be based on days worked.

• Pay B (maximum) – daily rate USD314.00.
• Remuneration will be based on the Consultant providing deliverables as outlined below.

Deliverable due Date:

1. Inception note & detailed workplan for quarter by 31 October 2025 – $ 6079.04

2. 1st Progress Report on country-focused technical cooperation provided by 28 November 2025 – $7598.8

3. 2nd Progress Report on country-focused technical cooperation provided by 31 December 2025 – $6079.04

4. 3rd Progress Report on country-focused technical cooperation provided and workplan for quarter 2 by 13 February 2026 – $7598.8

5. Package of capacity-building sessions delivered to select eastern Caribbean countries by 27 March 2026 – $11398.2

6. 4th Progress Report on country-focused technical cooperation provided to Eastern Caribbean Countries by 1 May 2026 – $6838.92

7. 5th Progress Report on country-focused technical cooperation provided to Eastern Caribbean Countries by 3 July 2026 – $7598.8

8. Report on health financing functions strengthened by 7 August 2026 – $7598.8

9. Report on country capacity strengthened for validating health expenditure for the Global Health Expenditure Database by 25 September 2026 – $7598.80

10. Summary Report of health financing functions strengthened across the eastern Caribbean countries by 19 October 2026 – $7598.8

Total remuneration for the deliverables: USD75,988.00

Location:

The majority of work during the consultancy is expected to be conducted remotely/offsite. Travel to the Eastern Caribbean countries will be as required, based on instructions of the Project Manager.

Project Manager:

All scope of work and deliverables are to be conducted under the lead of the Project Manager, Dr. Vishwanath Andy Partapsingh, Advisor, Health Systems and Services, PAHO/WHO Office of Barbados, and the Eastern Caribbean Countries.

Reporting requirements:

The Consultant will communicate with the Project Officer for the consultancy on the progress and outline any challenges that can potentially affect achieving the objectives.

 

Invoices and Status Reports:

The Consultant will be required to submit a monthly invoice and status report to the Project Manager, to facilitate payment of fees. The status report should outline areas of work, key considerations influencing (facilitating and limiting) progress with achieving goals.

· All reports should be supplied on digital media containing the text, tables and all appendices done in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint where relevant.

· Standards, written policies, and procedures are to be well documented and filed for future reference.

Ownership:

All products and materials resulting from this contract are the property of PAHO/WHO and are subject to the rules and regulations governing copyrights. The Consultant may not make use of information gathered during this project without the written consent of PAHO/WHO.

Travel:

In the event the Consultant is required to travel during the period of the consultancy as is customary for official travel undertaken on behalf of the Organization, the Consultant must complete a Spend Authorization prior to each travel segment and a corresponding expense report, after each travel segment has been completed. Per organization rules, expense reports must be submitted within 15 days after each duty travel. Cost for travel under the consultancy will be provided by the PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Countries.

Travel Per diem:

Consultants who are required to perform all or part of the work at a location other than their designated base duty station or their place of residence shall receive, in addition to CSA where applicable, the DSA rate for that location, i.e., per diem as per PAHO standard rates (which are subject to change by the ICSC and PAHO’s per diem policies. The payment of full per diem is conditional on the presentation of hotel or lodging invoices along with an expense report for all applicable nights. A maximum of full per diem rates are applicable for the first 60 days of continuous stay at any one place, after which it will be reduced to the “after 60-day” rate established by the ICSC for the duty station.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.

Level of Education: Master”s Degree (preferred for health positions)

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24 (health sector experience preferred)

Health Focus: PAHO works to improve health outcomes across the Americas